[A biophysical approach to the investigation of physiological processes].

It was shown that understanding the mechanism of rhythmic excitation in cells and tissues requires the combination of physiological and biophysical approaches. Systemic studies of changes in the physicochemical characteristics of the object were carried out by a protocol that takes into account the mode of rhythmic excitation and the functional sate of the object being studied. The validity of the approach was proved in studies of rhythmic excitation in somatic nonmyelinic and myelinic nerves, and in model systems.

[The role of membrane protein SH-groups in regulating ouabain and bungarotoxin binding in the crab nerve].

Structural alterations in plasma membrane proteins promoting transition from inactive forms of Na-pump and acetylcholine receptor to active ones during propagation of rhythmic excitation were examined. The role of SH-groups of the nerve (fibre and glial cell) plasma membrane proteins in providing regulation of the pump and receptor state by generalized alterations in the membrane structure is discussed.

[Levels of free fatty acids and calcium absorption in giant squid axons at rest and upon stimulation].

Nine free fatty acids (FFA) were discovered in the squid axons at rest: 12:0, 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1, 20:3, 20:4. The relative amount of FFA equaled 14.1 micrograms per mg of lipids.

[Distribution of calcium in unmyelinated and myelinated nerve trunks].

Exchange of Ca2+ between non-myelinated and myelinated nerves at the surface of axoglial complex of the nerve seems to be one of the extracellular systems controlling the Ca2+ level.

[Effect of changes in temperature on the cholesterol and phospholipid ratio in nerve fibers of the frog and squid].

The character of changes in molar correlation of cholesterol and phospholipids has been studied at different functional states in frog myelinic nerve and squid nonmyelinic nerve trunk. The correlation cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) found for both nerves in rest increases at temperature 38 degrees C. The electrical stimulation on the background of higher temperature action leads to unequal shift of C/P: the increase compared with the rest in frog and decrease in squid.